Fairchild Air Force Base demonstrates rapid generation capabilities during Royal Flush

A KC-135 Stratotanker takes off during exercise Royal Flush at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, May 1, 2024. During the exercise, Fairchild AFB launched 44 KC-135 sorties within a 72-hour period. Royal Flush was a two-part Air Mobility Command-directed readiness exercise that evaluated the ability to rapidly respond and execute mobility fundamentals and non-standard techniques to provide global mobility at a moment’s notice. This exercise represents a shift from day-to-day aerial refueling missions and planned deployments, to a time when forces could be required to launch all available assets and personnel within days’ notice. For decades, the KC-135 has been the backbone of Air Mobility Command’s air refueling capabilities around the world because of its ability to extend global reach and project U.S. air power. As the world’s largest tanker fleet, Team Fairchild would be among the first units to respond to any global contingency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Megan Delaine)